Press for forming stereotype plates



Dec. 19, 1922. 1,439,546.

w. E. GRAVES.

PRESS FOR FORMING STEREOTYPE PLATES.

.man rea. 2 3, |922.

Fatented Dee. i9, 1922;

narra .ra

Laaste frite..

l VVVUALIIER E. GRAVES, FLORISTON, CALIFORNIA.

PRESS FOR FGRMNG STEREOTYPE PLATES.

. Application led February 23, 1922. Serial No. 538,790. f

following is a specilication.

My invention relates kto manually operated presses for forming stereotype plates, so that they will be shapedto conformI to the curve on the cylinder of the rotary printing press on which to` be used.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide an improved press that will accurately and' eiiciently form the stereotype plates.

The presses which have heretofore been designed to do this work I consider to be both unwieldy and ineliicient, inasmuch as theyare not adapted to permit the application of suiiicient and accurate pressure.

I, attain my object by providing pressure applying means, controlled by independent levers-preferably operated by foot-which have diiferent lever ratios.

Said presses usually comprise a frame provided with a fixed top piece, a piece or ltable movable on the frame, and on which the stereotype plate is placed for forming;

and devices are provided for moving the table against the top with suficient force. As mentionecl,'the purpose` of my invention is to provide eih'cient means for moving the Vtable against the iXed top.

My'nvention consists in` providing a plurality of independent lever-like devices-tor example two foot levers-whereby thedepression ofl one lever operates the table moving means with maximum speed but minimum force, and the depression of the other lever` causes the slow application of the greater torce for moving the table `into that positiony which Awill eectively do the nal work of forming the plate.

' The arrangement and operation of the devices by .which I attain'my object are `shown in the v accompanying drawings, l in which: l

Fig. l. shows a side elevation'of my improved press with a section of stereotype platepositioned between the dies;

Fig. 2 is an end view of my machine;

Fin'. 3 is across sectional view taken on the hne 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. e is a detailview taken on the line 4 4'- of Fig. l `and shows the action of the multiple foot leveifsgthis detail showing the levers in their initial position' when no pressure has been applied;

Fig. 5 is a detail View taken on the same line as Fig. t and shows the primary lever depressed;

Fig. 6 is a detail viewon the same line as 4L and 5 and shows both primary and secondary levers depressed;

Fig. 7. is a detail view taken' on the line `7 7 of Fig. l3 and showshowy the compression kmember 1s `positioned in the socket which is integral withthe primary lever;

F ig. 8 is a detail view, partially sectional,

of `the primary lever, and' i l F ig. 9is a detail viewfpartially sectional,

taken on the line 2)-9 of Fig. 1, of the secondary lever attached to the eccentrically` bored sleeve.

This-machine ismade up'of side frames a7 joint 'and the setl screw m. These dies are easily removed and thus a die of any desired curvature can be quickly'and veasily loeked'into place. The lower die also provides bearing in which the rod ,7c can slide.

"The pusher Z attached to therod la is positioned so thatthestereotype plate can be removed from 'between the dies by pulling the handle Ic and thus it is notnecessary to insert the hand between the dies." The adjustable` compressionmember fa is pivoted between the ears e and heldbetween the bolt e2. The compressionmember can be adjusted by means of theturn buckle o which moves'on the threads n 'of the compression member a. The threads a are of 'opposite hands so that one turn of the turn buckle will'shorten the compression member twice'the pitch of the threads. The lock nuts p vdisposed on either side-fof the turn buckle prevent any movement when they are positioned against the turn buckle. The lowerendh? oi'1 rod wrests inthe socket g whichisvr offset' from the axisof rotation of the hub ot primary lever r. y This primary m si? lever r consists ot an arm and a hub r2. The eccentrically bored sleeve s is rotatively iuounted on thc fixed sha-ft and Within the hub r2. This eccentrically bored sleeve is attached to the secondary lever u by means ot set screws u. The notched rod fu is held in engagement with the detent uv by the detent spring ai. This notched rod /U has teeth /U formed in it Which, when in engagement vvith the detent fw, `hold the primary lever in any desired Vposition ,until it is manually released. The side trames (t are held together by cross rods y, nuts and washers y2 and held apart by spacers The action ot the levers is as follows:

The levers are normally positioned as shown in Figs l, Q and t. lNhen the primary lever 7 is depressed it brings the socket y directly above the fixed shalt t' therefore as the socket is olset to the axis of rotation and positioned so as to be slightly before the dead center it follows that a stress `Will be put on the compression member which will cause the ymovable table to rise. This lever action has a relatively lovv lever ratio and so moves the tvvo dies together speedily but Without much pressure. lThis action serves to take up the play betiveen the dies and removes general irregularities of curvature. The secondary lever is attached to an eccentrically bored sleeve ivhlelrrevolves on 'the fixedshatft zi.r As previously mentioned, the hub ol* the primary lever rotates on the outer surface ot' this eccentrically bored sleeve. jrs the lever is depressed the compression member is given a small` lift With the proportionally greater power and thus all the irregularities can'be removed and thus a true, even and uniform curvature is obtained in the stereotype plate.

I claim: y

l. In a. press ofthe cl'iaracter Adescribed, having a. frame, a lined top and a table movable v'on the trame against said top, means tor moving said table, comprising a shaft mounted in the frame, a sleeve having an eccentric bore rotatably mounted on said shalt, a primary lever provided with `a hub rotatably mounted on saidy sleeve,

a secondary lever rigid With said sleeve, a compression member connected at one end to sad movable table and connected at its opposite end to the hub of said primary lever at a pointv odset from the axis of rotation of the hub of such lever., releasable, automatic means for holding said primary lever after depressed, said levers being adapted to apply relativelydifferent ratios of speed and torce to said table, so that thereby the lati ter may be quickly moved towards Said lixed top by the operation of the primary lever, and then moved to its linal position by greater force applied by the secondary lever.

2. In a press of the character described,

having a frame, a lined top and a table movable on the trame against said lop, means for moving` said table, comprising a sba'lit mounted in the iframe, a sleeve having;y an eccentric bore rotatably mounted on said shaft, a primary lever provided with a hub rotatably mounted on said sleeve, a secondary lever rigid with said sleeve, a compression member longitudinally adjust'- able, connected at one end to said movable table and connected at its opposite end to tbe hub of said primary lever ata point offset trom the axis of rotation of the hub of such lever, releasable, automatic meansV for holding said primary lever after depressed, said levers being adapted to apply relatively ditferent ratios of speed and force to said table, so that thereby the latter may be quickly moved' towards said lined top by the operation of the primary lever, and then moved to its final position by great-er torce applied by the secondary lever.

3. In la press of the character described, having` a vtrame, a 'lined top and aftable movable on the traine against said top, means lor moving said table, comprising a shaft mounted in the trame, a sleeve having; an eccentric bore rotatably mounted on said shaft, a priinary lever provided with a hub rotatably mounted on said sleeve, the hub beingy provided with aI socket oliset troni the axis oi rotation ot the hub,"a secondary lever rigid with said sleeve, a 4compression member connected at one end to said movable table and connected at its opposite end to the` hub ot said primary lever at a point offset from the axis of rotation. of the hub ot' such lever, releasable, automatic means for ,holding said primary lever after depressed, said levers being adapted to apply relatively different ratios ot speed and torce to said table, so that thereby the latter may be quickly movedtowards said liXed top by the operation oli the primary lever, and then moved to its final position by greater force applied by thesecondary lever.

4. In a press of the 'character described,

having a iframe, a fixed top and a tabler movable ,onl the trame against said top, means for moving' said table` comprising a shalt mount-ed in the trame, a sleeve having anl eccentric bore rotatably mounted on said shaft, ya primary lever provided Vwith a hub rotatably mounted on said sleeve, a

secondary lever rigid with said sleeve, a.y

compression member connected at one end to said movable table and connectediat its opposite end to the hub of said primary lever at a point offset from the axis 'ot rotation of the hub'ot such lever, a'y rod connected to said primary lever, releasable automatic means adapted normally to lock llO the rod in the place to Which moved by 4 depressing said primary lever, `said levers being adapted to apply' relatively different ratios of speed and torce to said table, so that thereby :the latter nay be quickly moved towards said fixed top by the opera.- tion ot the' primary lever', and then moved to its final position by greater force applied by the secondary lever.

5. ln a press of the character described,

having a rame,`a fixed top and a table movable on the 'frame against said top,

.means for moving said table', comprising a shaft vmounted in the frame, a sleeve-having anecoentric bore rotatably mounted on said shaft, a primary lever provided With a hub rotatably mounted on `said sleeve, a secondary lever rigid with said sleeve, a

vcompression member connected at one end to said movable table and connected at its opposite end to the hub ofi' said primary lever at a point offset from the axis of rotation of the hub of suoli lever, a notched rod. connected to said primary lever, a

detent adaptedfor engaging the notches of said rod, and releasable automatic .means adapted to throw said rod against said detent, said levers being adapted to apply relatively different ratios of speed and force to said table, so that thereby the latter may be quickly moved towards said fixed top by the operation of thel primary lever, and then moved to its final position by greater ioroek applied by the secondary lever. l

G. In a pressl of the character described, having a frame, a fixed top and a table movable on the frame against said top, means for moving said table, comprising a shaft mounted in the trame, a sleeve having an eccentric bore rotatably mountedy on said shaft, a primary lever provided with a 'hub rotatably mounted on said sleeve, the

hub beingl provided with a socket offset from the axis of rotation oi the hub, a secondary lever rigid with said' sleeve, a compression member longitudinally adjustable,

to its final position by greater t'orcefapplied by the secondary lever. n

7. In a press of the character described, having a frame, a fixed top and a. table movable on the frame against said top, means for moving said table, comprising a plurality of independent lever-like devices adapted to apply relatively different ratios of speed and force to said table, so that thereby the latter may be quickly moved towards said fixed top by the operation oit one lever, and then moved to its final ,position by greater force applied by another lever. f

ALTER E. GRAVES. 

